Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become one of the IPL’s most discussed young prospects, drawing attention for the fearless manner in which he attacks from the first ball. With performances already featuring battles against top-tier pace—Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar among them—his self-belief has been hard to miss. Yet Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara is urging patience, insisting the best way forward is to let the teenager enjoy his cricket rather than wrap him in hype too soon.
Key takeaways
- Sooryavanshi has been praised for taking on elite pacers early in his IPL outings, showing confidence from ball one.
- Sangakkara’s message is to enjoy the process—runs and failures both belong in T20 cricket.
- Sooryavanshi arrived in the IPL after being named Player of the Tournament at the U-19 World Cup.
- In his IPL 2026 debut, he struck 52 off 17 balls against Chennai Super Kings.
- After five innings, his strike rate has surpassed 263.
- Sangakkara said the team will support him through setbacks, including a recent golden duck versus Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Fearless starts and early-impact knocks
From the very first delivery of his IPL campaign, Sooryavanshi’s approach has stood out. Rather than worrying about reputations, he has targeted matchups aggressively, taking on some of the most proven bowlers in the competition. His early outings have included duels with Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, reinforcing the impression that he is comfortable facing pressure situations.
Sangakkara, however, wants that fearlessness to stay grounded in enjoyment. Speaking on the expectations surrounding the youngster, the Royals coach said the main instruction is simple: just play freely. He highlighted that in T20 cricket, batters are allowed to succeed in a big way—whether it’s a rapid hundred from 35 balls or a quick fifty from 15—and they are also allowed to fail, including getting out for a first-ball duck.
From U-19 brilliance to IPL 2026 momentum
Sooryavanshi’s IPL opportunity has come right after a standout U-19 World Cup run, where he was named Player of the Tournament. He wasted no time carrying that form into the senior league, announcing himself with a quickfire 52 off 17 balls against Chennai Super Kings in the season-opening match.
After building on that start, he has continued to make an impact, posting a strike rate of over 263 after five innings. The way he has attacked early in games has been a key theme, and it showed again in his clash against Mumbai Indians when he struck a six off the first ball of the innings against Jasprit Bumrah.
His intent also surfaced in the game against RCB, where he went after Josh Hazlewood, hitting three fours and a six in quick succession to set the tone.
Sangakkara backs development after a golden-duck setback
Sooryavanshi’s recent test came in Rajasthan Royals’ last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he was dismissed for a golden duck by Praful Hinge, an unfamiliar name compared to the usual cluster of big-hitters and strike-rate stars. On that failure, Sangakkara suggested that the young batter will learn and adjust as he continues through the tournament.
He pointed out that the opening role in modern T20 cricket demands an attacking mindset, and that Sooryavanshi will work out his rhythm over time. For a player of that type, Sangakkara added, sometimes it’s better not to say too much and let the young batter find solutions through experience.
The Royals coach also stressed the importance of protecting the teenager’s mindset. He said he wants Sooryavanshi to remain like the 15-year-old who goes out with a sense of wonder, which he believes is the foundation for real progress. Sangakkara acknowledged that low scores will come—just as they do for everyone—but expressed satisfaction that Vaibhav is with the Royals and will be supported through the journey.
